These are a set the tidal windows and waypoints to assist in entering, exiting and navigating through Strangford Narrows to Killyleagh located on the southern end of Strangford Lough’s western shore. The sequence of description is from south to north as follows.
- • Passing east of Angus Rock
- • East of Meadow
- • West of Routen Wheel
- • West of the old Seagen isolated danger marker
- • Between Strangford and Portaferry Harbours
- • Southwest of Walter Rocks
- • Southwest of Balyhenry Point
- • Northeast of Chaple Island
- • South of the unmarked awash McLaughlin Rock
- • North of Skate Rock and Rigg
Finally terminating a ¼ of a mile east of the Town Rock Beacon that marks Killyleagh Harbour and provides access to the western shore.
Why sail this route?
Up until about the 18th century, the main body of the loch was better known by its Irish name Loch Cuan, meaning 'sea-inlet of bays/havens' which is entirely fitting. Twelve miles long and averaging three miles in width and covering 80sq nautical miles Strangford Lough is the largest inlet in Ireland. It provides cruisers with all-weather, all-tide shelter and at least seventy islands, along with many islets called pladdies, bays, coves, inlets and headlands to explore. All of which lie peacefully within a natural Marine Conservation Zone with a handful of pretty County Down villages around its rural shore. It is the finest sheltered sailing area in Ireland and it offers 60 square miles of pure cruising delight to all who come here.Tidal overview
Today's summary tidal overview for this route as of Friday, June 9th at 13:22. Best exit lending itself to northbound passage is at the start of the ebb, best exit leading itself to a southbound passage is at the end of the ebb.Best Exit (ebb)
(HW Belfast +0140 to -0440)

Starts in 04:42:02
(Fri 18:05 to 00:10)
Best Entry (flood)
(HW Belfast -0420 to +0120) Now
(Tidal flow )
Ends in 04:22:02
(Fri 12:05 to 17:45)
What are the navigational notes?


Image: Michael Harpur
The name 'Strangford' comes from Old Norse 'Strangr-fjörðr', meaning 'strong sea inlet' which refers to The Narrows that link the upper Lough to the sea between the entrance and villages of Strangford and Portaferry. With its maximum Spring rate attaining 7.5 knots in the Narrows, timing is everything when it comes to entering Strangford Lough. Trying to enter with any ebb running out of the Lough could have a vessel buffeted by standing waves and stood still in currents in various parts of the Narrows.

Image: Michael Harpur
As a minimum, all vessels should plan to enter with the flood and leave with the ebb, preferably at slack water. Likewise, and although well marked and lit, local knowledge is required to negotiate the Narrows at night so a first visit should be in daylight. This limits the approach to daylight, at around the turn of the tide which will most likely only happen once in daylight, which makes advance tidal planning essential. Admiralty Chart 2159 Strangford Narrows or a reliable plotter at the helm should be considered essential.

Image: Michael Harpur
Strangford Lough should be avoided in any strong onshore winds. Heavy breaking seas will be encountered one and a half miles southeast of the entrance. Worst of all is a southeasterly on an ebb or rise where furious standing waves and overfalls will result.

Image: Michael Harpur

East Channel, in-going 5 kn; out-going stream 7.5 kn at springs. Streams are almost simultaneous throughout the narrows and the period of slack water is very short as the tides reverse.
- • The flood starts in The Narrows at HW Belfast -3½ hours and runs for 6 hours.
- • The ebb starts in The Narrows at HW Belfast +2½ hours.
- • 15-minute period of slack water, as the tides reverse, and the streams run at 3 kn ± 1 hour.
The stream runs in line with the Narrows except to the north of Angus Rock where the flood and ebb run north-west and south-east respectively.

Best entry time: Between Belfast High Water -0420 and +0120. The best time for newcomers to arrive and make an entry is at the end of the ebb so as to make an entry at slack water or on the young flood before the flow really gets going. This keeps the speed over the ground nearer what a helmsman is accustomed to. The last hour of the flood is best avoided in the event that there is not enough time to complete the passage through the narrows before the tides reverse.
Best exit time - lending itself to southbound vessels: Be south of Angus Rock by Belfast High Water -0440. Normally a boat capable of achieving 5 - 6 knots should leave Strangford, or the Portaferry pontoons, about 30 minutes earlier and take the strong ebb tide down the Narrows. The ‘best exit time’ facilitates a southbound voyage as, upon exiting the Narrows, the flood tide in the Irish Sea will flow southwestward for about 5 hours afterwards.
Good exit time, lending itself to northbound vessels: Be south of Angus Rock by Belfast High Water +0140. This normally means leaving Strangford or the Portaferry pontoon at BHW +0040 and fighting the last of the flood tide down the narrows. This exit time better suits northbound vessels as, upon exiting the Narrows, there is a favourable northward flowing ebb tide in the Irish Sea for about 4 hours. But there cannot be any delay with this exit or it could lead to an encounter with significant overfalls off the entrance to the narrows. These are created by the ebb tide flowing south-eastward out of the narrows and colliding with the Irish Sea’s northeastward flow. A way to evade the worst of this is to steer to pass close to Bar Pladdy South Cardinal Mark and out eastwards where the water to the north of the overfalls will be found to be calmer.


Image: Michael Harpur
This should provide most boats with ample time to pass a couple of miles outside the off-laying rocks and islands and arrive in time to pick up a favourable tide at the Narrows. Good waypoints would be the buoys of Donaghadee Sound, Skullmartin Light, South Light, Butter Pladdy Cardinal and then to the first of our sequence but do not cut the corner at Ballyquintin Point as the dangerous Quintin Rocks extend out a ¼ of a mile from the point. This route can be found in the Northeastern Ireland Coastal Description Malin Head to Strangford Lough
Those arriving at an inconvenient time will find Ardglass Harbour (Phennick Cove Marina)

The East Channel is the principal approach to Strangford Lough. It passes in approximately midway between the entrances Killard and Ballyquintin points, then to the east of Angus Rock Lighthouse before taking a central path after passing Kilclief Castle on the western shore.
But there is an alternate approach via the West Channel that leads over the bar to the west of Angus Rock between the rocks connecting Killard Point and The Potts rocks. It has a least charted depth of 3.9 metres and is narrowed to about 200 metres at one point by two sunken rocks that are unmarked. Small craft can use this channel to avoid the strength of the tidal current in East Channel as it is possible to enter during the tail end of the out-going stream and make some headway west of Angus Rock before the stream has finished.

Image: Michael Harpur
It is also very possible to make an entry and anchor off at Kilclief Bay

Image: Michael Harpur
It is important to note that low water in the West Channel occurs about 1.30 hours before the ebb stops and the in-going stream flows strongly towards Tail of Angus so keep well westward of it where there is ample water after entering.
The complete course is 7.68 miles from the waypoint 'Strangford Narrows Approach' to 'Killyleagh' tending in a north westerly direction (reciprocal south easterly).
Strangford Narrows Approach, 54° 18.615' N, 005° 30.000' W
This is just over a ½ mile east of St. Patrick’s Rocks, that is located 600 metres to the south-east of Killard Point. It is on the bearing of 323.7° T of Angus Rock Lighthouse, south and about midway of a line drawn between the Bar Pladdy South Cardinal light and Strangford Safewater buoy.
► Next waypoint: 1.06 miles, course ⇓ 324.14°T (reciprocal ⇑ 144.14°T)
East Channel, 54° 19.470' N, 005° 31.060' W
This aligns the 341°T leading light beacon off Dogtail Point, front; Oc(4)G.10s, 2 metres high red beacon, and Gowland Rocks, rear; Oc(2)G.10s 5 metres high white stone beacon, green top, to pass Angus Rock Lighthouse about 300 metres to port. It is 'Track A' on Admiralty 2159.
► Next waypoint: 0.83 miles, course ⇓ 341.03°T (reciprocal ⇑ 161.03°T)
Meadows Shoal, 54° 20.250' N, 005° 31.520' W
This is when Kilclief Castle will be seen on the western shore, bearing 260°T, and the vessel will be north of Meadows. The course now turns slightly westward, 'Track B' Admiralty 2159, on the line of bearing of 330° T of the Salt Rock Light beacon an 8 metre white stone, with a red top Fl. R.3s.
► Next waypoint: 0.78 miles, course ⇓ 330.13°T (reciprocal ⇑ 150.13°T)
Cross Roads, 54° 20.930' N, 005° 32.190' W
This is between Cross Roads and Dogtail Point. The course now turns slightly northward, 'Track C' Admiralty 2159, 343° T up the centre, passing west of Gowland Beacon, Routen Wheel and the Seagen.
► Next waypoint: 1.47 miles, course ⇓ 342.77°T (reciprocal ⇑ 162.77°T)